Riding high on success
Was it a no-brainer to make a second series of Doctor Foster?
Yes. It seemed pretty obvious because the first series was so successful. It went above and beyond people’s expectations. The scale of the response was amazing. It felt like it touched a nerve.
What happens in the second season?
I’m not going to spoil the plot because it’s a psychological thriller, and it would be unfair of me to reveal the details. But what is great about Mike’s writing is that he finds the ‘epic in the everyday’.
How does your character, Simon, develop in this second season?
In series one, his life was spiralling out of control. He was doing everything to try to put the genie back in the bottle. Now, Simon has gone away and done work on himself. He has rebuilt himself and has a plan. The power has shifted in their relationship, and there is an epic battle between two ordinary people fighting over everything.
What are the other strong points of this show?
Another thing I like is that it is not set in the capital. You see so many dramas that take place in the metropolis, as though everyone lives in London. But Mike is writing about the nation as a whole. I love the fact that the town of Parminster in Doctor Foster stands for communities around the country.
How have you found it working with Suranne?
It has been brilliant.
